Enviromental fragility, social vulnerability and risk of disaster in the lower reaches of the Maranguapinho river, Fortaleza-Ceará-Brazil

Abstract

The present urban-environmental scenario of the Brazilian metropolises portrays significant changes in natural environments for the development of cities, resulting in a wide range of socio-environmental problems, especially in the precarious housing settlements. This situation is found in Fortaleza, the fifth largest city in the country, capital of the state of Ceará in north-east Brazil. In this context, we draw attention to the precarious settlements on the right bank of the lower reaches of the Maranguapinho River. The main goal is to examine the spatialization of the susceptibility to disaster risks in these territories. For this, we use the correlation between urban environmental fragility and social vulnerability, estimated by means of a synthetic index. The results allow us to interpret the spatial relationship between a the precarious settlements in question and the most fragile environments, thereby revealing the risk of disasters. This indicates the need for spatial planning measures to prevent crisis situations.